Google has announced Android Auto is now available in compatible cars across the United States, UK and Australia.
Android Auto is a system that works with an Android 5.0+ device and a car’s head unit or infotainment system to allow a driver to call, get directions, listen to music and a range of other functions.
According to a statement by the company, the first integrated units available in the U.S. are Pioneer’s AVIC-8100NEX, AVIC-7100NEX, and AVH-4100NEX aftermarket systems, in the UK are the AVIC-F77DAB, AVIC-F70DAB, AVH-X8700BT models and in Australia drivers need to snap up Pioneer’s AVIC-F70DAB and AVH-X8750BT systems.
Android Auto is built to minimize the amount of glances and button presses by the driver, and is designed to appear more like a typical in-car system rather than a mobile device. It will integrate the apps on your Android device along with loads of Google features such as Maps, Search, Play Music and voice. It also supports a range of popular music apps, outside Google Play Music, such as Pandora and Spotify.
To get Android Auto up and running, users will need to download the Android Auto companion app from the Google Play store. To sweeten the deal, Google is chucking in a free 90-day trial of Google Play Music.
Apple has a similar in-car system called CarPlay, while car manufacturers such as BMW have their own inbuilt systems. The Android-connected operating system was unveiled by Google in June 2014, taking almost a year to be available in cars.